Chanka Demographics and Diet: A Case Study In Commingled Remains from the South-Central Peruvian Andes

Summary

Burial sites in the Peruvian Andes, especially around Andahuaylas, Peru frequently consists of many commingled individuals. Most date from ca. AD 1000-1400 placing the individuals in a time of much turmoil as the Wari Empire collapsed and environmental constraints affected the region. This unrest resulted in an eruption of violence and a fight for resources, forcing individuals to restructure their identity. However, despite the plethora of human remains from this area, no ranges for sexing the commingled long bones exists for modern or prehistoric populations in Andean South America, which creates considerable challenges as we explore larger questions concerning identity and gender roles among the Chanka. Here, Chanka remains from Sonhuayo, a short distance outside of Andahuaylas, Peru are examined to fill this lacuna. In addressing this gap, we initiate an investigation of how identity was restructured during a time of insecurity. Stable isotope analyses of bone collagen and tooth enamel as well as metric analysis of long bones, have allowed us to construct a demographic profile of the Chanka from Sonhuayo and correlate behavior to ideas of gender and identity as manifests in diet.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

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